FSL Projects Ltd acted as Project Manager, Employers Agent & Quantity Surveyor for Matrix Academy Trust to deliver this scheme.

Matrix Academy Trust developed a new build general teaching block, over two floors, comprising 37 classrooms split into two phases.  Phase One provided 23 classrooms and Phase Two delivered 14 classrooms.   Originally, the project was designed to accommodate a two-phase scheme, providing 32 new classrooms.  This resulted in an over-budget scheme.  With our intervention we established that the number of classrooms required was only 23, and the building had been designed such that an extension for the additional classrooms can be readily accommodated.  The resulting scheme was tendered and let under a JCT Design & Build Contract in the sum of £6.8m and a 52 week programme.

Contracted Activities – Procurement of the design team in conjunction with the architect CoArc on behalf of Matrix Academy Trust.   Structural & Civil Engineer | Client Mechanical, Electrical & Public Health Services Engineer | Acoustician | Building Control Services / Approved Inspector.  Once established we provided proactive project management services through the design development phases (RIBA Work Stages 3-4).    Our QS team provided detailed cost planning at RIBA Work Stage 3 and a further update at RIBA Work Stage 4.  Overall, the cost plan was in the region of £6.7m, comparable to the available budget.

At the time of our appointment, only a Stage 3/4 report was present to the client who subsequently instructed the team to progress to tender.  FSL Projects managed the tender action including site visit and mid-tender interviews with all contractors.  Of the four tenderers, three submitted bids, we finally engaged Alcema, with an ultimate contract sum of £6.79m.